Texture Photo Challenge - I {heart} Faces Photography

So I was just talking about messing around with textures in my previous post, and stumbled upon this fun website:

And, there is a contest going on with textures. Since I had just done the previous two, I thought I would enter one of them. And, although I adore the one of Bean, I thought it would be a super cool surprise for my sister if this picture made the top ten...since she is the one that snapped it...I edited...but she did the hard work! AND, I love my little babe so much, that this picture is still one that I treasure! So, I am posting that picture again except I converted to black and white, and like it this way too! So, here it is...and here is hoping that it is picked as a winner!

Procrastinating...

That is my name right now. I have many other things to be doing, and one being packing for our trip on Tuesday. I have the kids clothes packed...but that is it. Instead of packing, or picking up toys, or folding the rest of the laundry, or doing dishes, or getting some much needed sleep...I worked on editing. Not anyone's session because I am all caught up, which is a very rare occasion. At least I didn't procrastinate finishing sessions until after our trip! :) I am intrigued lately with adding textures to images, and I have found a bunch of super cool ones that I have downloaded but haven't had a chance to play with. So, tonight, I did that. I took two older pictures, ones that have been posted here before, and tweeked and played with them a bit.

Here is the first one...a favorite shot of Butter and I at our girls' only weekend trip.

The original: saturation on this was already lowered...



Texture effect: Stained Paper Towel I also changed the original picture to have a slight sepia effect... I am loving this!
Session with the kids back in October. This was one of my favorite shots of Bean. She was so serious about posing and she is so darn beautiful that it kills me. It was like I was seeing her 10 years from now...sigh.

The Original:


The effect: Stone Overlay. The saturation of the original was also lowered, and I also erased the texture from her sweet little face. My only complaint about this one would be that you can't see the beautiful blue eyes that she has...I could fix it, but like I said, I am procrastinating as it is!

So that is it. That is what I did for the past half hour or so...played. I love the editing and playing part of my job...almost as much as I love being with my clients and their cute kids! Now off to pack...at least a little bit!

I also am working on a few things that you won't want to miss out on! The end of this month marks the TWO YEAR anniversary for T.R. Armstrong Photography. I am blessed by its growth, and am thankful to all of you sweet clients that have made this a success. More on that later though...seriously off to pack...or... sleep!

Birthday Shots...

Thanks to my baby sister, Kiersten for taking pictures for me, while I attended to Butter and the party. She did a fabo job!

Also a major thanks to my friend for making the cookies that you will see in the pictures! They were delicious, looked super cool...and I think she needs to do it as a business...she disagrees...at least for right now! :)

It was a laid back party which was blessed with family. Gbers had just started coming down with a cold (which by the way, led to an ear infection...his first...that we discovered on Monday at his "well" check). He was still in good spirit's and you can tell, he still enjoyed himself some cake!

Speaking of well check...he is doing quite well! He is measuring at the 25th percentile all around, so he is well balanced. He is the shortest of the three so far at this age...it will be interesting to see his growth over the next year. Cakies totally tapered off...even now she is just a peanut barely weighing in at 30 pounds...that is with clothes and shoes! I tell her that she will be in a 5 point harness until she is 16 at this rate! My older sister was a peanut like this! Beanie continued to grow and grow and she still hovers around that 90th percentile. She is solid and strong...very much the build I had growing up...peanut would not be the nickname described for me!

What do all of you out there do for birthdays? Big bashes, small intimate ones?!?!? I always love to hear what others do with events such as these. Tom reminded me as I was feeling like I needed to be doing more for his birthday party, that Butter won't remember a bit of this party...and really, it was more of a party for me. Indeed. It was a celebration of an amazing year that we were blessed with. I am always amazed that the love that I have for my little ones when they are born is intense, and that the intensity of that love can still grow. It grew. And it continues to grow.

I have some sledding shots from this same day/weekend, but didn't get to them tonight. You have that to look forward to though! Have a great week!

The cookies...mmmmmmm....

Welcoming guests as they came...well, just hanging in the hallway because the door kept opening!

"Opening" presents...love this expression...

...the bag was a big hit...

...so big...

...playing peek a boo...

Cake time...

The rainbow cake...

...before digging in...

...after seeing him dive in, we knew for sure he was an Armstrong...we love our sweets!!!!

Mr. K...3 months old

I love this family! They are sweet, kind, great parents and always so welcoming to have me in their home for a session! (If you remember this story, you will remember their kindness too!) They have welcomed me for sessions since their oldest was 9 months old, and he is already a Big Boy Two...with a handsome little brother in tow!

And, I always say I love repeat clients! And this is another case that rings so true to that! I feel like each session I have with them, we become better and better friends. Yes, if you have had a session with me, I do call you my friend...sorry if you don't want that label! :)

I love sessions at client's own houses (especially with itty bitties when it is cold and wintery out)...kids are usually more relaxed in their own environment, and for sure are less "worn out" when the session starts because they are at their house, with their toys, belongings and what not. AND, when they start to get cranky, I can usually squeak a few more shots in because they are able to be calmed down a little before the real sleepies or crankies hit!

Mr. K didn't last super long, but I was able to get some great ones of him (and big brother too...but this session was mainly focused on K).

So, here are a few quick peaks that jumped out at me tonight while fishing through the session! Thanks J and D! You both are fabulous, and I always leave you guys with such a happy heart!

Love this expression...

...and this little stare too...

This shot was taken while Daddy was holding him...he was getting tired (K that is, not Daddy) but he kept giving so many great smiles!


:) :) :) :)


I love hands (and feet... ;)) I have a shot of just my girls holding hands hanging in my house, and I love it! I love this of the two sweet brothers holding hands together. B is such a great big brother!!

Well, I need to go to bed. We had a fabulously fun and busy weekend! The girls stayed the night at Mimi and Papa's house on Friday. That meant Gbers in bed at 8:00 here, take out for Tom and I in front of the "big screen" for a movie without interruptions from the girls climbing down the steps because...they couldn't fall asleep...they need more snuggles...they have to potty or other items. They are GREAT procrastinators!

Last night Cakies came down at 11:00, after being in bed for over an hour (don't judge the bedtime...it was way later than norm!), while I was working on the computer. Tom had just gone to bed, and I needed to finish a few things. Cakies couldn't sleep because she needed someone awake to snuggle her. Mind you, since we moved back in after the fire, the girls have been sharing a bed together, and loving it. Bean was out like a light, but Cakies just couldn't fall asleep! So, she snuggled next to me on the couch and within minutes she was snoring louder than Tom does! It was a sweet moment for the two of us. She just need some "snugs". :)

To top off a rather fun weekend, Tom and I went to the UM vs. UConn game, and UM won! It was a great game, a great atmosphere and a great date with my best friend. :)

Now seriously, I need to go to bed! Hope you had a great weekend!

A Runner...

Little C here was what I like to call a "runner". He ran everywhere, and did it quickly. Fortunately, he was confined to his own house, so he couldn't run too far! I love two year olds, their expressions, their quickness, their talk...they are so fun! I loved this session also because I love doing sessions in client's own settings...his family room, bedroom, playroom...kids are more relaxed and more themselves, and those are the types of pictures I love getting...especially when it is freezing cold out and a park or outdoors would be craziness for a little one for any length of time!

Fun it was and here are a few peeks...

...my favorite so far...

And...Happy Birthday again to my sweet little boy! Check out his pictures below! Have a great week!

The Big Day

Well, the countdown is over. Butter is ONE! My sweet little round, loving, adorable, temper throwing, food tossing, lip pouting boy is one. As cliche as it sounds, I remember his birth like yesterday. His c-section was rather unpleasant. For some reason, I felt more than normal. I couldn't wait for it to be over. When he was pulled out and I heard his cry, I felt much relief. I was the first to kiss him (okay, I was the first with all of them, but doesn't the momma deserve that first kiss?). Although he was a good 8 lbs, he was so tiny. I adored every little part of him, and was sad that I could see changes so quickly within the first few days.

Driving home from the hospital took quite some time. We had a 10" dump of snow two days after he was born. It also kept visitors at bay, and I was able to spend so much time with just my boy...and sleeping...and recovering. I missed seeing people, but looking back, I am glad I had that time with just him.

He also came home with a bili-blanket that he had to stay wrapped in for a week. He looked like a glo-worm when he was all snuggled in it, but he definitely needed it because his skin tone looked quite lemony! :)

He fit right into our family, and was loved by the girls instantly. We watched the video the other night of the first time the girls made it to the hospital, and both Tom and I teared up. They were so excited to find out if it was a boy or girl, and so excited to meet him.

The time flies. People aren't joking when they say that. Although many days seem like "Ground Hog's Day", all of those days fly by.

Last night we made Gbers his cake. The girls helped...and helped eat the extra parts that were cut off!!!! They are just as excited about his birthday as I am...which makes it all the more fun!

I love seeing how much Gbers loves his sisters too. If they are playing in the basement, he lays on the floor with his head plastered to the floor and the crack of the door, calling for them (not by name of course, just yells). They usually will come and stick their hands through the crack to play with him, and he screams with delight. He follows them everywhere, and they are pretty darn good at letting him "tag" along. I think that has been my favorite part over the past year. I love all the ittty baby stages, and wearing my baby boy everywhere, and developing that bond with him, but seeing him develop that bond with the girls is amazing. The love they have for each other makes the crazy haired days completely worth every bit.

They are the loves of my life. And to my Little Man, Butter, Gbers...you are loved more than you will ever know. You came and blessed our lives more than we would have ever known. You helpd to soften the wounds in my heart, helped heal some of the hurt and have brought happiness to all of us. We love your little tempers, your neediness of momma, your fast army crawling, your climbing all over the place, your constant need to put EVERYTHING in your mouth (seriously, the girls never did this as much as he does), your sweet personality, your "Darth Vader" breathing, and your ability to put us all in stitches.

Happy 1st Birthday my sweet boy! Your joy is immeasurable!
We love you...

He was totally loving this chair...

...got him totally naked for a few shots...could his heiny be any cuter?

...were there too many "buns" shots? Tom was not approving some of the shots...I didn't post those!